Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse and MADLAX recently completed a merger that combines both programs. Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse will operate under the MADLAX National program umbrella, with a goal to develop one of the nation’s strongest and most productive club lacrosse platforms and brands. Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse will keep the Rock name and colors and operate as Madlax-Rock of Baltimore. Madlax-Rock will offer all-star teams, camps and clinics for boys ages 8-18. The merger integration is underway and will be completed prior to the start of the summer 2013 season. The merger combines two of the nations most recognized ELITE level club brands.

Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse was founded in 2005. The emphasis for Rock’s establishment was an interest in establishing a Club lacrosse program in the Baltimore/Washington area that offered a team club platform with an added emphasis on position specific team and player development. Kevin Mayer (current Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator at CCBC Catonsville) has been Director of Chesapeake Rock Lacrosse since 2006. Coach Mayer has overseen all aspects of the club operations including the strategic mission and the recruiting platform for the high school players in addition to coaching at the High School ELITE level for Rock Sophomore and Junior teams. Kevin Mayer will remain as Director of Madlax-Rock of Baltimore. The current Rock Coaching Staff(s) and team designations will remain in place.

Madlax was founded in 1996 by current owner Cabell Maddux. Madlax offers all-stars travel teams, camps, clinics, leagues, tournaments and has a retail and online store. Madlax All-Stars teams started competing in 1999 with just one team attending Champ Camp. Today Madlax All-Stars has 14 team within Madlax-Capital, 8 team within Madlax-Florida and 4 teams within Madlax-California that will combine with 10 teams from Madlax-Rock. Madlax-Capital All-Stars have placed over 350 boys into NCAA programs. In 2010 Madlax founded and started the only character development initiative within an elite boys lacrosse club called C.A.S.E (character, attitude, success, effort). In 2009 Madlax started its unique ‘Academy’ concept which offers teaching and positional practice and speed workouts 11 months of the year for all players involved in the Capital All-Stars program.

The merger allows both programs to combine administrative resources while enhancing the ability to focus on the most important aspects of the club lacrosse experience: (1) Individual position specific skills development (2) team skills development (3) advisement in the recruiting process for high school players (4) encouraging confidence for our participants during the player developmental process (5) teaching and mentoring the GAME of LACROSSE . The merger also allows for the scaling of the MADLAX National Team platform, which combines the organizations top talent from all of the Clubs operating under the MADLAX national umbrella. The current MADLAX National umbrella includes 36 teams from: Madlax-Rock-Baltimore, Madlax-Capital, Madlax-Florida, and Madlax-California All Star Teams.

“The growth of the club lacrosse platform risks moving away from development of the position specific skills required to become impact lacrosse players, says Mayer. Under the current platform offered by many club organizations the overriding focus is on the team aspects of player development. Player’s participate with their club teams in the fall, spring (for middle school players), summer and the entire annual platform for development provides an emphasis only on the team components of the game. The risk is young developing players are missing the position specific skills development you have to become an ELITE level lacrosse player. When we were young we went to camps in the summer and learned position specific skills that made us better players. With club becoming a key component for youth and High School lacrosse players many young players are missing out on learning position specific skills. It is not unusual for us to get High School players at our tryouts who do not have basic position specific skills sets they need to succeed at their positions. Rock’s mission has always been to focus on both aspects, although as our program grew the administrative load kept us from scaling the teaching component. Madlax’s vision and mission mirrors ours and hence combining resources with Madlax was a no brainer and allows us to streamline the administrative component while significantly scaling the most important part of the club experience…TEACHING the GAME of LACROSSE!”

Cabell Maddux, Madlax founder adds, “Kevin Mayer has built a quality and respected program in The Rock and we are excited and honored to combine our resources and knowledge to create an the premier elite travel lacrosse program that will positively impact boys living in the greater Baltimore area. I am most excited about spreading the Academy teaching concept, the CASE initiative and enhancing the quality of lacrosse played on the field by Madlax-Rock teams and especially the Madlax National Teams. Our National Teams will provide a unique opportunity for a boy from San Francisco, CA to play on the same outstanding team with a boy from Naples, Fl, McLean, VA, Bethesda, MD and Baltimore, MD. That will be a fun and memorable experience for our Madlax players from across the country!”

Rock will be integrating the Academy based training platform currently in place with Madlax along with the CASE program immediately. The national team platform will start at u13 and go through rising seniors each summer and fall. It provides an opportunity to streamline the recruiting organization at the High School level, provide Middle School players an opportunity to roll out age based National teams, while incentivizing all Madlax players to work to make these teams while combining TOP players from different regions.

A new robust Madlax website will launch in the next few weeks and all the national programs will be included in the new site. Madlax will be exploring further opportunities to add new travel programs to the national platform.